Fight Sickness & Stay Healthy with These Indoor Air Quality Tips

Published on March 10, 2016

Another note. Yes, another note about the diseases going around your kids’ school. Croup. Strep. Influenza. RSV. Just reading the words is enough to send mamas and daddies into a panic. The CDC announced that RSV causes an average of 57,527 hospitalizations among children under five each year in the United States. So what do you do to help make sure your family is safe?

Understand Indoor Air Pollution

The CDC warns that poor indoor air quality can result in lung diseases such as asthma and also cause headaches, nasal mucus, and fatigue. Additionally, the American College of Allergists report that 50% of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air. The Texas DSHS said that air within homes and buildings can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and in extreme cases, 1000 times more polluted. There are two primary causes of poor indoor air quality:

So all this info – so what? What do you do? How can you make sure you and your loved ones aren’t breathing sullied, virus-inducing air?

Luckily, there are options.

Get Proactive On Air Filtration

Have you ever been mad and had to bite your tongue to keep from saying something regrettable ? That’s a filter. Have you ever used water from the refrigerator door and had your thirst immediately satisfied? That’s the filter. Filters keep toxicity in check and avoid unpleasant ramifications. You filter your words for peace, you filter your water for health, why shouldn’t you filter your air?

Numerous hospitals use a high-efficiency air filtration system called HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air), which you can buy for your home if you have a loved one with a low immune system or someone who’s very susceptible to illness. Even if nobody has respiratory issues in your home, you’ll be immediately surprised by the almost instant change from a basic air filter to a High Efficiency one.

If you don’t feel like a high-grade air filtration system is right for your home, there are many other options to help clean your family’s air. From standard air cleaners to electronic air cleaners, review the chart below to help decide which air filtration and purification system is right for your family.

Help Control Germs With Germicidal Systems

Germi-what? Germicidal UV Light Systems help remove airborne biological contaminants – germs – by safely giving off high intensity UV light from within your home’s air flow system. These bacteria-destroying machines can kill germs and even assist in stopping further germs from accruing in your home. According to one study, roughly one out of five people with allergies suffer from exposure to fungi and bacteria in their ventilation systems. A UV light unit will help purify and sterilize indoor air to help you reach the highest air quality possible.

Optimize Moisture with Humidifiers or Dehumidifiers

Um, don’t those two things do exactly the opposite of each other? Why would I choose one rather than the other? For home comfort, humidity levels should be between 35% and 50%. Too much humidity can cause microbes, condensation and even wood damage. Not enough humidity can cause dry skin, sinus sickness, cracking wood and sore throats. Depending on the climate where you live, chances are you have too much or too little humidity.

It’s nearly spring and that means spring cleaning! Don’t forget your ducts during this revitalizing time. Since a great amount of our in-home air arrives through our duct system, it’s important to keep it from getting dirty with bacteria, mold, and dust. When you have your ducts cleaned, ask the service tech to check for duct leaks, also. Leaks in the duct system can cause extra contaminants to enter your air and flow throughout your home. Guaranteeing they are clean and maintained will help keep your air clean and your loved ones healthy.

Increase Ventilation

With the challenge to become more energy-efficient, homes are often sealed tighter and insulated carefully and completely to make sure air isn’t escaping while our heating and air systems work to keep our home pleasant. Energy-efficiency is a great thing, but it also means a reduced amount of airflow, less circulation, and reduced movement. This can cause the air to become static and contaminants (indoor air pollution) are remaining inside your home’s air – the air you breathe. An air ventilation system detects indoor and outdoor temperatures and humidity and continually brings the required air replacement. This can add 5% to 10% more fresh air every hour, lowering the concentration of airborne contaminants.

Get A Home Health Report

During your next Precision tune-up, request a complete indoor air quality report from your A/C contractor. An expert air conditioning company like Service Experts will provide a copy of your report with professional guidance to address these and other air issues in your home.

So, yes, it’s terrifying to know that your little ones are being exposed to scary respiratory diseases but next time you get that note from your childs’ school, wash their hands, cover their cough, and invest in a system to help your indoor air quality be as strong as possible.

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